Manure fork or carrier.



PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

LE GRAND KNIFPEN. MANURE PORK 0R CARRIER.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 18. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIIITIImZ I Even 0W I e TQ 7262 1 12 rue nonms PETERS cm. inmsnmarou. n.c.

No. 844,524. v PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

- LE GRAND KNIFFEN.

MANURB PORK 0R CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

LE GRAND; KNIFFEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IVIANUHE. FORK QR CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19,1907.

ApplicationfiledAugnst 18", 1906'. SerialNo. 831,102;

Improvements in a Manure Forkor Carrier,

of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates t? that type of'i'm plements used for collectingor scoopingup and conveying material from one point to another, andwhile it is more especially in? tended" to be employed for handlingbarnyard manure and in connection. or co6perationwith an improvedloading apparatus, such as is disclosed in an application, Serial. No.325,065, for Letters Patent filed by me on the.7th day of July, 1906,yet it is applicable for use without such an apparatus or with a loadingapparatus of different construction and. for handling and? removingother material, such as earth, ore, f'ertilizers, and. the like, and itconsists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel;arrangement, and operation of the various arts thereof, as will behereinafter more fully set forth and. specifically claimed.

In. my abovementioned application. for patent on loading apparatus Ihave shown and described in connection with and as.

forming a part ofthe apparatus a fork or-carrier of substantially thesame construction. as that forming the subject-matter of" the. pres--ent applicatioirbut have not therein claimed said fork or carrier 1"-se, or,,rather, except in conjunction with t e apparatus or asforming apart thereof.

The principal object of the invention is to. provide a fork or carrierwhich shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable,and effective in operation, and so made that it may be drawn by horse orother power over the ground and up an inclined? chute when desired andmanually guided in. its forward movement, but automatically guided downthe chute.

Another important object is to so construct the fork or carrier that itwill automatically dump its load when it reaches a certain point on thechute and in such a man.- ner as to prevent it becomingywedged? betweenthe sides of the chute by means of straw and fibrous manure.

Still another and important object is to provide means for preventingthe tendency of the handles of the fork or carrier torise in its forwardmovement, thereby relieving the operator of great strain.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in thesubj oi'ned description. and explanation.v

to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will nowproceed to describe it, referring to. the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fork or r carrierembodying my invention Fig. 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partlyin section, of' the upper portion of the inclined :chute of a. loading"apparatuswit'h the fork or carrier shown thereon in its tilted or dumpedposition, parts of the view being shortened forthe convenience ofillustration. 3 Fig. Sis an inner face view of one of the sides fof thefork, showing portions of the tines, a @part of the bail, and one ofthelocking-levers therefor. Fig. 4' is a plan view of a portion f the forkor carrier. Fig; 4 is aperspecltive view of the fork or carrier, showing';a modification. in the construction thereof. Fig. 4 1s an end view ofa portion thereof. ,Fig. is a sectional. view taken on line 5 5 of @Fig.8' lookingin the direction indicated by ithe arrows. Fig: 6 is an outerface view of one side of the fork or carrier, showing a jmodification inthe construction thereof. {Fig 7 'is a sectional view taken on line'7"7' of Fig. 6* looking in the direction opposite to that indicated by thearrows. Fig. 8 is a detachedperspective view ofone of the locking-.levers for the bail. Fig. 9 is a similar view of one of thesecuring-clips for the bail. Fig. 10 is a. fragmental perspective viewof the cross-bar which carries the tines. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectionalview thereof, showing'a portion ofoneof'the tines in place thereon. Fig.12fis a front face view of a portion of a modifiedform. of'thetine-carrying cross-bar. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view thereof. Fig.14' is a. sectional view taken on line 14' 14: of Fig. 15" of one of thesides. of the fork or carrier, showing another form of its construction;and Fig. 153'is a perspective view thereof.

Corresponding numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout thedifferent views of'the drawings.

The carrier or'fork may be of any suitable formsuch as a fork, scoop, orscraperfor gathering and holding the-.manure or material; but for thepurpose of handling barn- In. orderto enable others skilled in the art.

.yard manure, which contains straw, hay, and

bers is provided on its inner surface with a rearwardly-extending'socketor channel 21,

' in each of which is located a handle 22, which project rearwardly andupwardly and are.

for the use of the operator in guiding the fork or carrier when the sameis being filled.

On a front and downwardly-projecting extension 23 of each of the members20 is horizontally secured a cross-head 24, which is preferablyrectangular in cross-section and hollow andalso preferably has its endsfitted in sockets 25, formed in the extensions 23. The preferredconstruction of the cross-head 24 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 10and 11 of the drawings and consists of a piece of channel-iron 26,having in its rear portion a number of circular openings 27 and betweenthe front edges of its top and bottom a plate 28, which may haveshoulders 29 to receive said edges. This plate has a series ofrectangular openings 30 arranged in a horizontal row and so astoregister withtlie openings 27, which are for the reception. of therounded and screw-threaded portions 31 of the tines 32, while theopenings 30 are for the reception of the rectangular portions 33 of thetines and which keep them from turning in their sockets, nuts 34being'used on the rear ends of the portions "31 to hold the tines inplace.

Instead of using a cross -head of the above-described construction I mayemploy one of the form or make shown in Figs) 12 and 13, which consistof. a hollow bar 26 about square.in cross section, having in its frontand rear portionslho'les 27 for the reception ofthe portions 31 of thetines. Located on'the front portion of the bar 26 is-a plate 28 which isprovided with rectangular openings 30yto receive'the similarly-shapedportionsv 33 of. the tines. The cross-head, whether made as abovedescribed or otherwise, may have journaled on its rear portion at aboutits middle a wheel or roller 35, employed for assisting the movement ofthe carrier in its descent on the chute. This wheel has no particularadvantage in moving the load upward on the chute, as the draftis such asto often lift it out of contact therewith; but when the carrier hasdischarged its load and is returned, so as to travel down the chute, thewheel which isplaced at the middle of the cross-head will strike theplatform or chute and will act in the downwardmovement of the carrier asa leader therefor, permitting thetines to drag on the chute, thusguiding the carrier in a direct movement downwardly, whereas, if twowheels were employed on the carrier, if one of them came in contact withan obstruction it is obvious that the carrier would be deflected to oneside and its further downward progress prevented by the side pieceof thechute.

Each of the members 20 is provided in its upper portion and somewhatre'arwardly from the cross-head 24 with a horizontal slot 36, in whichis loosely locateda horizontallyextending hollow rod or cross-bar 37 theends of which project a considerable distance from the outer surface ofthe members 20 and form pivots for the fork or carrier to coact withstops orlevers 38 on the upper part of an inclined chute 39 in order tocause the fork or carrier to be tilted, so as to dis charge its load. InFig. 2 of the drawings I have shown a portion of the upper end of achute 39, which is equipped with a supporting-bracket 40 to rest on theside of a wagon box or body or other receptacle to be loaded. The floor41 of the chute terminates some distance from the upper ends of thesides 42 of the chute, thus providing an opening through which thecarrier may operate and dump its load. The upper ends of the sides 42are united by a cross-piece 43, on which is 5 j ournaled a pulley 44,over which a cable 45, attached at one of its ends to the bail of thefork or carrier and used for drawing the same, passes. On each side ofthe chute and usually pivotally secured to the bracket at its lower endis a lever or stop 38, which proj ects above the upper edge of the sides42, so as to be in the path of the prbjecting ends of the rod orcross-bar 37 or pivots: As there is considerable strain on these pivotsor proj ecting ends, I prefer to use a hollow bar or rod 37 andreinforce its ends by placing therein solid rods orbars 46, (see Figs5,) which may be secured in lace by means of pins 47, passed through colars 48, one on the outer side of each of the members 20, and through therods 46 and rod or bar 37, thus preventing longitudinal movement of thelast- .named rod. At the rear end, somewhat above the rod or bar/'37,the members 20 are transversely connected by means of a crossbaror rod49, preferably hollow and reinforced by solid rods 50 in each of itsends.

Secured on the cross-bar or rod 49 and usually by means of clips 51 arethe rear ends. of a bail 52, the front end of which has the cable 45connected thereto. As shown in Figshl and 9, each of the clips 51 isprovided with a lateral projection 53, located slightly to the rearofthe rod or cross-bar 37 or the pivots of the carrier. However, thesejections may be made integral with the arms of the bail, as is evident.

Fulcrumed at its lower end on each of the members 20 is a lever 54, eachof which has in pro- ' cations oftlie implement, and in Fig. 4

its upper front portion: a recess to engage the projections 53 on thearms of thebail. The upper end' of each of" the levers 54. is rounded orbeveled, and the lower Wall' of: each of'therecesses therein is-longerthan the upper wall for the purpose of more effectual engagement withsaid projections. Each of said? leversis provided on its rear surface,at about its middle, with alug 56-, around which is fitted one end of acoil-spring 57, the other end of which i'sfi'tted around a lug5'8-OI11tl'16- inner surface of each of the side members. These springsserve topressthe levers54;for wardly, sothat the recesses 55willienga-ge-the projections 53", and thus firmly hold the bail 52 initshorizontalor loweredposition-until the ends ofthe rod or cross-bar37' or pivotsof'the carrier-strike the l'evers 38 or stopson the chute,by-meansof which the rod orbar 37'will'be pressed backwardl y the-slots36', thus disengaging ections 53' and, permitting the carrier to bedumped. Each of? the members 20: is pro.-

vided on its outer surface with one or more I what I claim as new, anddesireton secure by pairs of spaced apart and? horizontal lugs 59 to;receive the rear ends of auxiliary tines 60, used for preventing thematerialfa-lling off the sides of'thecarrier. Instead of using thehorizontally disposedlugs or-ribs 59 for theabove-named purpose, asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 to 7, inclusive, I may employ apertured lugs 61,as shown in- Fig. 1 5 of the drawings, in which figure, as welli as inFig. 14, it will be observed that each of the members20 isprovided witha pivot 37*, which is integral therewith and which form I may sometimesemploy.

In Figs. 6 and; 7 of the drawings I have shown another modification inthe construe tion of the side members 20, which consists inusing ahollow cross-bar orrod 37- without the reinforcingrods and in fasteningit by means of. pins 62- to said members.

As shown in Fig. 1' of the drawings, the cross-head is connected-to thehandles by means of diagonally and upwardly-disposed braces 62*, whichserve to strengthen the device andto-some extent prevent theloadescaping through the rear part thereof. As one of the important featuresof my present invention is to provide a fork or carrier of suchconstruction as to enable-it to be easily dumped? at theproper time, andas I do not desire to, be limited. tothe specifi'cconstruction of thedevice except where so claimed, and as the facility of the dumpingoperation depends largely on" the novel and peculiara-rrangement oftheparts of the device with respect to one another, and particularly onthe arrangement andlocation of the bail and pivots, I have shown severalmodifihave shown a perspective view illustrating the broad idea of theconstruction to facilitate the tilting or dumping thereof which consiststhelevers 38 from the pro-'- in employing an upright board or plate24l,to the loweredge-of which is:secured a series of forwardly projecting'tines, the outer' or side ones of which are-braced, t0 the ends of the;board 24. and, handles: 22; by; meansv of bars 20 to= which the endsv ofthe; bail: 52. are

secured at points above and: slightly to; the rearof across-bar'3'7fiwhichis longitudinally secured on the board 24- and: hasitsends proj ectecl' beyond. the same.

From the foregoingand by referencev to the drawings-it Willlee-understood and ole arly seen that when the carrier is drawn.upwardly on the chute and reaches the upper portion thereof theprojecting arms: or pivots. will, strikeprojections, steps, or leverswith which the chute is provided, and! thus. through. the draft, throughthe bail which. is: connected. to thefork or carrierabovethepivots ordumping arms thereon. which; armsor-pivots are located onthe-sides andnearthe rear-0f the-device, willl cause the fork orcarrier to; be'roe'tated on the pivots and? dumped of its-load.

Having thus fully described my invention,

Letters Patent, is'

1. A2 fork or'carrier consisting of] two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a. cross,- head and a cross-bar transverselyimiting the same,means on the cross-head; to hold; the material, and alaterally-extending pivot on each of themembersabove:the crosswhead.

'23. A forkor carrier consisting oftwo up 1 rightsp aeed ap artsidememberseach: having on its inner surface a rearwardly and; up.-wardly extending: channel, a handle secured in: each of said channels, across headi and a cross-bar transversely uniting: the members, means onthe cross-head to-hold the material, and a laterally-extending pivot oneach of members above-thecross-head.

A fork or carrier consistingof two upright spaced-apart side memberseach having on its inner surface a rearwardly and upwardlyextendingchannel, and on its outer surface means tosecure a tine thereto, ahandlesecuredin each: of its channels, atine located on the-sideof eachof'said members and extending forwardly-therefrom, a cross.- head and across bar transversely uniting the members, means on the cross-head tohold the material and: a laterally-extending pivot on'eaehof-thememb ersabovethe cross-head.

4. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spacedeapart sidemembers, atubular cross-head and a tubular cross-bar, transverselyuniting'thesame, meansonthe crosshead to hol'd the material, andalaterally-exr tending'pivot on each of the-members above thecross-head.

5 A fork: or carrier consisting of two upright spaced apart sidemembers, a cross head transversely uniting the same at their lowerportions, cross-b ars transversely uniting sai'd membersattheirupperportions, one

of said cross-bars projecting at its ends a con siderable distancebeyond the outer surface of said members to form pivots, and 'means onthe cross-head to hold the material.

6. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a crosshead and a cross-bar transversely uniting the same, across-bar transversely uniting said side members, means on thecross-head to hold the material, a bail connected at its rear ends tosaid cross-bar, and a laterally-extending pivot on each of the sidemembers above the cross-head.

7. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a crosshead and tubular cross-bars transversely uniting thesame, means on thecross-head to hold the material, one of saidcross-bars proj ecting at its ends a considerable distance beyond theouter surface of each of said members to form pivots, and reinforcingmeans applied to the outerportion of said tubular bar forming saidpivots.

8. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a crosshead and a cross-bar transversely uniting said members,means on the cross-head to hold the material, the said cross-bar locatedabove the cross-head and projecting at its ends a considerable distancebeyond the outer surface of each of said members to form pivots, and abail loosely connected at its rear ends to the side members at pointsabove and to the rear of the pivot forming the bar.

9. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart-sidemembers, a crosshead and a tubular cross-bar transversely uniting thesame, means on the cross-head to hold the material, said cross-barprojecting a considerable distance beyond the outer surfaces of each ofsaid members to form pivots,

and a solid rod located in each end of the cross-bar to reinforce thesame.

10. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a crosshead and a cross-bar transversely unitin the same, meanson the cross-head to hol the material, said cross-bar projecting at itsends a considerable distance beyond the outer surfaces of each of saidmembers to form pivots, a bail loosely connected at its rear ends to theside members at points above and to the rear of the pivot-forming bar, ahandle secured to each of the side members, brace-bars connecting thehandle and the cross-head.

' 11. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a crosshead and a cross-bar transversely uniting the same, awheel j ournaled on the rear portion of the cross-head at about itsmiddle, means on the cross-head to hold the material, alatorally-extending pivot on each side of the members above thecross-head, and a bail loosely connected at its rear ends to the sidemembers at points above and to the rear of said pivots.

12. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a crosshead and a cross-bar transversely uniting the same,forwardly proj ecting tines on the crosshead to hold thematerial, alaterally-extending pivot on each side of said members above thecross-head, and a bail loosely connected at its rear ends to the sidemembers at points above and to the rear of said pivots.

13. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright side members each havinga channel to receive a handle, a cross-head uniting the side'members attheir lower portions, means on the cross-head to hold the material, atransverse bar uniting the side members at their upper portions, a bailsecured on said cross-bar and having on each of its sides a lateralprojection, a pivot on each of the members, a spring-actuated andrecessed lever fulcrumed on each of the members and adapted to en agethe projections on the bail, and a handle located in each of thechannels of the side members.

14. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright side'members, arearwardly-extending handle secured to each of said members, across-head uniting the side members at their lower portions, means onthe cross-head to hold the material, a cross-bar uniting the sidemembers at their upper portions, a bail secured-at its rear ends to saidcrossbar and thereof near the rear of the device on which the same isrotated when being dumped.

16. A fork or carrier having dumping arms or pivots projecting laterlyfrom the sides thereofnear the rear ofthe device, on which the same isrotated when being dumped, a bail connected to the fork or carrier andsaid arms orpivots being located below the point of connection of thebail, in order that the draft through the same will assist in dumpingthe fork or carrier.

17. Afork or carrier having dumping arms or pivots projecting laterlyfrom the sides thereof near the-rear of the device, on which the same isrotated when being dumped, a wheel journaled on the rear lower portionof the fork or carrier to guide the samein its return down the chute, abail connected with the fork or carrier and said arms or pivots beinglocated below the points of connec- IIO tion of the bail in order thatthe draft through 1 the same will assist in dumping the fork or carrier.

18. A fork or carrier adapted to travel on an inclined chute and havinga wheel journaled on its rear lower portion at the middle thereof toassist and guide it in its movement down the chute.

19. A fork or carrier adapted to travel on an inclined chute of greaterwidth than the carrier, means on the upper portion of the carrier todump the same, and a wheel journaled on the rear lower portion of thecarrier to assist and guide it in its movement down the chute afterbeing dumped.

20. A fork or carrier consisting of two upright spaced-apart sidemembers, a crosshead and a cross-bar transversely uniting the samefmeanson the cross-head to hold the material, a laterally-extending pivot oneach side of the members above the crosshead, a bail pivotally connectedat its rear ends to the fork or carrier and having on each of itssides alateral projection, a spring-actuated and recessed lever fulcrumed onthe fork or carrier near each of its sides and adapted to engage theprojections on the bail. l

LE GRAND KNIFFEN. Witnesses;

OHAs. O. TILLMAN, E. AOKERMAN.

